Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor, Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota

Research Practicum Introduction

Digital media enterprises have uprooted many established industries and continue to be among the most important forces shaping our economy and society today. Where do these innovations come from? Why do some startups prosper while others fail? How do legacy firms respond to disruptions to their business models? What makes adaptations possible? What makes them risky?

In this program, you will learn to analyze and evaluate the strategies of existing digital media enterprises in the news, entertainment, social media, mobile, retail, and other sectors. You will also have the opportunity to assess their impacts on cultural and civic life for better and for worse. While this program is primarily a chance to study and think about existing media, it is also an opportunity to gain skills to develop your own ideas of media innovations.

This program will explore how emerging technologies will impact not only your own lives, but also the various journalism and communications crafts. It will emphasize the increasing globalization of media and the need for enterprises to serve increasingly diverse audiences. 

Students will also learn general and subject-specific research and academic writing methods used in universities and scholarly publications. Students will focus on individual topics and complete their own work products upon completion of the program.

Project Topics

• Social media and communities: What makes online communities significant and distinct? What are some examples (especially during COVID-19)? 

• Incumbents vs. upstarts: What are some examples of disruption?

• Trust and the sharing economy: What factors will influence the market of people loaning / renting their unused items?

• Influencers: How is advertising changing with the growth of ‘influencer economics’ and the proliferation of social media?

• Mobile media: What companies, apps, or games have changed how people relate to their phones and to each other?

• The future(s) of emerging media: How do we prioritize user needs such as security, privacy, access, and inclusivity?

• Or other topics in this subject area that you are interested in, and that your professor approves after discussing it with you!

Program Detail

• Cohort Size: 3-5 students

• Workload: Around 4-5 hours per week (including class time and homework time)

• Target Students: 9-12th grade students interested in Media, Journalism, Entertainment, Communication, Technology, Economics, or Marketing.

• Schedule: TBD. Meetings will take place for around one hour per week, with a weekly meeting day and time to be determined one week prior to the class start date.